The Baltimore Times

(BPT) - Family members can have many things in common, including physical characteristics and personality traits. While some traits are obvious, like having red hair or blue eyes, some shared traits are not as obvious, such as the risk for developing a common medical condition, like high cholesterol, or a rare disease.

A rare disease is one that affects fewer than 200,000 people, and about 30 million Americans have one of 7,000 known rare diseases. Because about 80 percent of rare diseases are genetic in origin, knowing one's family history is an essential part of the recognition and diagnosis of these conditions.

Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for family members of someone diagnosed with a rare disease to go untested, which could delay getting an accurate diagnosis and potentially appropriate medical attention. Families should keep an open line of communication about diseases that may be genetic and if appropriate, encourage their relatives to seek evaluation by a knowledgeable medical professional. Nikia, 32, who is living with a rare swelling disease called hereditary angioedema (HAE), knows firsthand the importance of familial testing.

HAE is a genetic disease that affects about 6,000 people in the United States. The disease causes repeated swelling attacks that can occur anywhere in the body, including arms, legs, hands, feet, stomach, genitals, face and throat. HAE attacks can be unpredictable, painful, debilitating and disfiguring. The average HAE patient endures about 10 years of repeated misdiagnoses before the disease is accurately identified. Along with a blood testing, a comprehensive family history can help accurately diagnosis HAE. Often, people who are diagnosed with HAE report having relatives who suffered their whole lives from severe stomach aches or unexplained episodes of swelling, or even relatives who died unexpectedly due to throat swelling, who likely had HAE but were never accurately diagnosed.

Nikia was first diagnosed with HAE when she was just 5 years old, after experiencing severe swelling all over her body. Nikia's mother had also suffered from bouts of unexplained swelling throughout her life, but because her attacks were less severe and only occurred in her feet, she never sought medical attention. It was Nikia's cousin who eventually encouraged her mother to get tested for HAE, and three years after Nikia was diagnosed, her mother's testing indicated that she also had HAE. Because of her cousin's persistence, Nikia's mother was finally able to understand the cause of her own unexplained swelling episodes and received medical attention that helped her manage her attacks.

Understanding the likelihood that she could pass HAE on to her children, Nikia had both of her children evaluated for the disease. Although her daughter was not diagnosed with the condition, her son eventually was. When Nikia's son was about 3 years old, he was frequently being sent home from school for nausea and vomiting. Nikia, who had experienced similar symptoms as a child, recognized the likelihood that it could be due to HAE. Testing confirmed that her son did, indeed, have the disease.

"When my son was diagnosed with HAE, I wasn't afraid or sad," says Nikia. "It gave me the spirit to further educate myself and other health care providers so that they could potentially help someone else by getting an earlier diagnosis. I learned as much as I could about the HAE landscape so that I could be the best advocate for my son.

Today, Nikia dedicates much of her time to staying up to speed on new information or medical advances in HAE and spreading awareness of the disease amongst her family, friends and community. She shares the new information she learns with her extended family and encourages members of her family to get evaluated for the condition. To date, she has prompted two cousins to undergo testing for HAE. It is her hope that her loved ones will also spread knowledge about the disease so that others may be properly diagnosed without having to endure years of untold suffering.

"Even though some of my family members have been tested for HAE and the results came back negative, they are now educated about this disease and can help raise awareness among others," says Nikia.

To learn more about HAE and to access helpful tools for families impacted by HAE, visit www.HAEandMe.com, an online resource for people with HAE, their friends and family members that offers tips and advice for people of all ages. To find a health care professional, visit www.HAEA.org, the official website of the U.S. Hereditary Angioedema Association.

Surviving cancer is a tall task, especially when you’re trying to do it alone.

The importance of allowing a loved one to pitch in and provide care and support is monumental in battling the dreaded disease, according to Kevin Murphy, the author of the award-winning and best-selling book, “Surviving Cancer, After Surviving Cancer.”

“The patient needs to stay focused on not only getting through the physical side of the battle, but the emotional side,” Murphy said. “The patient begins to think they are a burden and a lot of patients won’t express their feelings or the anxiety. But, allowing others to help is often not just a great thing for the patient, but for those helping.”

Murphy knows first hand the struggles that come with having a loved one, battle cancer. A former truck driver and teacher who turned lawyer and public speaker, Murphy said that his family was torn a part not long after he was married when his wife was diagnosed with cancer.

“For three years, we were living the dream and then, boom, we are devastated,” Murphy said.

He said lumps began to appear on his wife’s neck. The couple went for a biopsy but doctors told them it was nothing to worry about, the lumps were benign. That was important because the couple was in the process of deciding whether it would be a good time to get pregnant, Murphy said.

Six months later during a pregnancy that was entering its second-trimester, the truth hit the couple very hard.

Murphy’s wife was about four months pregnant with their first child and doctors said treatment would no doubt kill the unborn child.

“I buried myself into my work and buried my feelings and my fears while my wife, after giving birth, buried herself in trying to be a mother,” Murphy said.

The discord was palpable and, where cancer did not succeed in killing his wife or baby, it did succeed in destroying the marriage.

“We never came face to face with our fears or our feelings. We pretended,” Murphy said. “What happened was, for me, I didn’t handle the emotional side of the disease well at all, and I paid a heavy price for it. I made a lot of mistakes that can easily be avoided and I hope that my book and the lessons gleaned from it will help keep relationships intact and help others learn how to interact with loved ones during such a horrible time.”

Already, Murphy said his story has helped many others to cope.

He recalled, “a big bear of a man, breaking down after I had given a speech about the book and about my experience. That was the most memorable moment I have because the point that I make is that we have to show emotion. It is okay for a grown man to cry,” Murphy said.

The book has even caught the attention of famed college basketball coach and announcer Dick Vitale, who wrote that the book helps couples cope with the emotional side of the dreaded disease.

“But men, take heed,” Vitale said. “Read this book and learn that when cancer comes to you, your wife, or a family member, it is okay to pray, weep, and most important of all, seek help from others. This book will make a difference in your life.”

Murphy has also formed The Phyllis Foundation, a non-profit whose primary charitable focus is to get the book and its message to cancer patients everywhere.

The book has been honored with an International Book award, the Mom’s Choice Award Gold Honoree; USA News Best Book Award finalist; and received an honorable mention at the New York Book Festival.

“How does one put into words the human experience of cancer? Kevin Murphy has accomplished this by way of his personal journey and fight against the ultimate fear of losing a wife and marriage, and ensuring the birth of two exceptional daughters,” said psychologist Peter Ganshirt. “The emotional burden that cancer places upon a marriage and family will certainly be minimized by reading this book and learning the evolution of change necessary to survive cancer,” Ganshirt said.

The National Cancer Institute says more people are surviving cancer thanks to earlier detection and better treatment. In a report titled, “Cancer Survivors in the United States: Prevalence across the Survivorship Trajectory and Implications for Care,” the institute notes the number of cancer survivors will grow by almost a third over the next 10 years, amounting to some 18 million survivors.

“Attacking the physical disease simply isn’t enough,” Murphy said.

“For many couples and families, successful treatment of cancer is the end of one battle and the beginning of another, when a clean bill of physical health comes with a hefty price tag that ends up costing the end of a marriage or other relationship,” he said.

Begun in January 2013, the overall theme of the monthly series is “Medicare 101,” with each month focusing on a specific topic.  The columns range in length from about 550 to 650 words, and are written under the by-line of Nancy B. O’Connor, who is Medicare’s Regional Administrator for Region 3, which covers Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. At the end of each column, there is a brief paragraph providing contact information where folks can get additional information and assistance, both through Medicare, and from community-based resources, such as the State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) in your state.

Each month, you will continue to receive a new column about Medicare on or about the 15^th –apologies that this month we are a bit late! These columns are free of charge, so please feel free to print them, and/or post them on your website.   If you prefer, I can send these columns to someone else on your staff, so please respond with their name and email address and I will substitute their email for yours.

I would appreciate knowing if you DO decide to use this month’s column. OR, if you do NOT wish to receive this series at all, I will remove you from these mailings.  Also, let me know if you prefer to get this in a separate Word document—I have embedded this column as part of this email, as some may be blocked from receiving attachments.

If you wish to receive any or all of the previous “Medicare 101” months columns, please email me and I will send them to you as well.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or feedback—my information is included below the column.

I hope you find this and future columns useful and of interest to your audience.

Here’s the column –longer than usual given the complexity of the topic (805 words including title, by-line and end credit)

Medicare 101: Understanding Your Choices—Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage

By Nancy B. O’Connor, Regional Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Region 3

Each year, millions of people become eligible for Medicare, most because they turn 65, and some because of disability or certain medical conditions.   However, Medicare is not a one-size-fits-all program.  That means there are decisions to be made in determining the right type of Medicare coverage that meets your needs at a cost you can afford. 

You can choose to get your Medicare coverage through Original Medicare or through a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Original Medicare

Original Medicare is a fee-for-service plan that is managed by the Federal government.  You can go to any doctor, non-physician health care provider, hospital or supplier that is enrolled in and accepts Medicare.  Original Medicare has two parts.

Part A (Hospital Insurance): helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice and home health.

Part B (Medical Insurance):  helps cover services from doctors and other providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment and some preventive services.

Under Original Medicare, after you meet your deductible, Medicare covers 80% of the approved charges and you are responsible for the remaining 20%.  In addition, you pay a monthly premium for Part B.  Part A is premium-free if you or your spouse paid taxes while working for at least 40 calendar quarters (10 years).  If you are not eligible for Part A premium-free, you may get it by paying a monthly premium, the amount of which will depend on the number of quarters you worked.

In Original Medicare, you have the option to add prescription drug coverage by joining a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, offered by a private insurance company under Medicare Part D.   You can also purchase Medicare Supplement Insurance, known as a Medigap Policy, sold by private health insurance companies, to fill “gaps” in Original Medicare Plan coverage, such as the out-of-pocket costs you have with Original Medicare.

You will be enrolled in the Original Medicare plan unless you choose a Medicare Advantage Plan.  Most people get their Medicare coverage through Original Medicare.

Medicare Advantage Plans

The other option is to receive your Medicare benefits through a Medicare Advantage Plan.  These are plans offered and operated by Medicare-approved private insurers under Medicare Part C.  They are required to cover all benefits and services covered under Parts A and B, and offer the same rights and protections as Original Medicare.  In addition, most include Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, as well as extra benefits not covered under Original Medicare, usually at additional costs.  Theses extra benefits can include vision and dental coverage, eyeglasses, wellness programs, gym membership, and other benefits.  Again, the types of extra benefits will vary by plan.

In most Medicare Advantage plans, you need to use doctors, hospitals and other providers who are part of the plan’s network for your services to be covered.  If you go outside the plan’s network, except for emergency and urgent care, you are responsible for paying more or all of the cost of the services provided. 

Costs for Medicare Advantage plans vary by plan.  In addition to the Part B premium, which you are still responsible for paying, there is usually a monthly premium for the plan, co-payments and deductibles.  Medicare supplement plans will not pay the cost sharing in a Medicare Advantage plan.

There are also different types of Medicare Advantage Plans, and it’s important to understand how the different types of plans work. Detailed information is available in the “Medicare & You” handbook, and on the Medicare website www.medicare.gov .  Not all types of plans are available in all areas.

You can compare Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Part D plans available in your area on the Plan Finder section of the Medicare website.  There, you can compare the plans’ costs; find out the providers in their networks; see what extra benefits they provide, and learn how well plans have performed on a number of quality and customer service measures, captured in 1-to-5 star rating system.

There is a lot to know and think about when it comes to signing-up for Medicare and choosing your coverage.  Fortunately, there is a lot of information and help available, at your fingertips and in your community.  Resources include the Medicare website, www.medicare.gov;  1-800-MEDICARE (633-4227)—TTY users call 1-877-486-2048; the Social Security website, www.socialsecurity.gov, and Social Security toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users call 1-800-325-0778).  In addition MarylandSHIP, the State Health Insurance Program in Maryland, can provide personalized help in your community—you can call 1-800-243-3425 to get the help you need.

Nancy B. O’Connor is the Medicare Regional Administrator for the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.  You can get always get answers to your Medicare questions by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

During National Poison Prevention Week, March 17-23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges parents and caregivers to secure pesticides and other household chemicals in locked cabinets out of children's reach. 

“Poison Prevention Week is a time to raise awareness and strengthen prevention efforts to empower parents and caregivers with information about simple steps that can be taken to prevent poisonings," said James Jones, acting assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “EPA continues to take action to help prevent these risks to children and help ensure that the products on the market are both safe and effective for consumers.

Each year, approximately 65,000 children ages 5 and ounger are accidentally exposed to pesticides, and more than 10,000 of those exposures involve mouse and rat poisons. Under new EPA safety standards, consumer use mouse and rat poison products must include a protective tamper-resistant bait station. These measures prevent children from accessing the poison.



Feel Good All Year Round

Keeping children healthy through the winter is a top priority for parents. Fathers playing an active role in their children’s lives, including their health and safety, can make a positive difference. Dads, you can take several simple steps so colds and flu don’t stop your kids and you from spending time together.

According to the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC), setting a good example is the most important way to teach your children healthy behaviors. Even if you don’t share a home with your children, following healthy habits when you are together encourages them to do the same.

Modeling healthy behaviors is key for any parent seeking to teach their children healthy habits and behaviors. For example, if your children see you washing your hands often, they likely will too. Step in at the sink to help the littlest ones wash thoroughly. Again, the earlier they experience this, the greater the chances that they will retain and continue these healthy practices.  Once you are done, be sure to dry your hands completely after washing them. To prevent the spread of germs, cough or sneeze into your elbow so germs are not spread to your hands. Also, show your children how to turn their heads away from others and use and toss tissues properly. Be sure to exercise, eat foods that help you have a healthy weight and energy, and get proper rest. When your body is in good physical shape, is well rested, and has appropriate nutrition, it is better able to fight off germs and infections.

Taking care of your own health should not be limited to wintertime. It is a year-round process that is as important to your children as it is to you. Fathers can accompany their children on annual check-ups to help reinforce key health messages from the pediatrician. On occasion, children may accompany their fathers to their check-ups, too. Resources available on the NRFC website (www.fatherhood.gov) confirm that healthy fathers are more available to emotionally and financially support their children and families.

To feel great and stay that way, you need to take into account more than just your physical health. Your psychological and social needs also have an impact on your overall well-being and your ability to be positively involved with your children.  

1.     Psychological health ‒ Life can get complicated and overwhelming. So being a loving, involved father isn’t always easy. If you are depressed, are abusing drugs, or have other issues that affect your emotional and mental health, they can cause problems between you and your children. There are many support and treatment options available to help you get past the barriers that could be holding you back from a better relationship with your children.

2.     Physical health – Exercise regularly. Find an activity that you enjoy so you are more likely to maintain a routine. When planning your workouts, discuss them with your children. Explain your exercise routine and how they can join in too. Set realistic workout goals. Be sure to balance your workouts with proper sleep.

3.     Dietary health – Eat healthy foods in moderate amounts. Drink water and snack on fruits and vegetables. Discuss your diet with your children. When in the grocery store point out healthy choices. Read the labels on food items with your children and discuss nutrition information. You are what you eat, so be sure to encourage and model healthy eating habits for your children.

4.     Social health ‒ How you conduct your adult relationships has a direct effect on your children. Studies show that people who enjoy healthy relationships have more happiness and less stress. If your relationships in the past were stormy or troubled, you can start now to undo attitudes and behaviors that might have contributed to an unsatisfying personal life. Dealing with past mistakes allows you to move forward by establishing positive, fulfilling relationships.

5.     Interpersonal health ‒ Healthy interactions are often the most neglected component of well-being. Healthy relationships take time and effort. Look for ways to add laughter to your activities with your children. Make sure your children know and understand your values by living them every day. Focus on your successes and not what you consider to be your failures. Let your children know that it is OK to fail and that no matter what, you’ll always love them.

Children need involved fathers in every aspect of their lives. Similarly, dads can take control of every aspect of their health. Show that you value your health and you’ll be a positive role model for your children. Pass your healthy habits on to the next generation.

Getting up-to-date, accurate information is a vital part of health and wellness. The NRFC offers practical tools and resources to help fathers build and maintain stronger connections with their children in every season. Visit www.fatherhood.gov or call 877-4DAD411. Stay in touch with the NRFC on Facebook and Twitter.

February is American Heart Month. In recognition of this month-long observation, which seeks to raise awareness of heart health, The Baltimore Times is publishing a series on heart disease. While heart disease is preventable, symptoms can be more difficult to recognize in women than in men. This is Part 2 of the series.

There was a time when Georgia Chapman says that if she was passing on from this world, and had the opportunity to choose her “last meal,” those selections would have been easy to make. “I would have said ‘barbecue potato chips, a two-liter soda, some fried chicken, hot sauce and some cookies,’” said Chapman.  “I would have gladly eaten that meal and gone on to heaven.”

Chapman came close. In May of 2012, she suffered a heart attack. According to Chapman, a steady diet of soda, fried food, fast food, and sweets, along with a lack of exercise played a major part in the heart attack.

“The fast food was killing me, and it’s killing us as African Americans,” said Chapman. “The soda, the fried chicken, and the salt and sugar is messing us up. These things are causing diabetes and other diseases, and also play a major part in why there are so many dialysis centers in our communities.”

She added, “I got off of work at 11:00 p.m. at night. I didn’t feel like coming home and cooking. It was easier for me to pick up fast food. I also wasn't getting enough rest and had borderline hypertension. All of these things had taken their toll.”

According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one killer for all Americans, while stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death. The risks of getting those diseases are even higher for African Americans. High blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, are the most common conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. 

“We as African American women tend to take care of everyone in the family except for ourselves,” said Chapman. “We don’t do a good job in terms of our weight and blood pressure. I was a former athlete, but started letting myself go.”

She added, "Many Caucasian women exercise during their lunch break. They also hit the salad bar, and don’t eat fried food. But I didn’t want salad, I wanted meat.”

Chapman is 55-years-old and works as a phlebotomist at St. Agnes Hospital, where she was treated for her heart attack. She reflected back on the day she went from employee to patient.

“I left work and went home because I was feeling bad,” said Chapman. “I thought I was having indigestion, but then my chest felt warm.  It felt like I had a warm towel on my chest. That wasn’t normal, so I called 911 and was taken to the emergency room. The heart attack didn’t show up, but a specialist was on duty that night.”

According to Chapman, the specialist looked at her Electrocardiogram (EKG). An EKG is a test that checks for problems with the electrical activity of the heart. 

“He thought I was in trouble, and realized I had three blocked arteries in my heart. Thank God the specialist was there and could detect something was wrong. That’s why heart attacks are so tricky. You feel okay, but you are not. That’s why so many people die. If I had remained home, I would have died. I needed round the clock treatment.”

According to St. Agnes Hospital, cardiovascular disease is killing residents of Southwest Baltimore at a rate nearly six times higher than other areas of Baltimore City. To help prevent and control the prevalence of the disease in Baltimore, the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation awarded a $244,455 grant to the Saint Agnes Hospital Foundation on Thursday, February 21, 2013.

“As African Americans, we also tend to keep our family history hush-hush," said Chapman. "I learned later in life that some of my family members had died of heart disease. We have to share this information.”

 Nine years ago, Saint Agnes Hospital created, “Red Dress Sunday,” a faith-based health education program. Chapman regularly shares her story at "Red Dress Sunday" events. Since her heart attack, she has also lost 20 pounds, exercises regularly and has changed her diet. “I also let one job go,” said Chapman. “The doctors told me that material things weren’t worth losing my life. Now, it’s also about portions and eating right. The doctors say I look like a different person.”

Chapman, who attends Central Church of Christ, says she hopes others will learn from her story.

"We can no longer eat oxtails and other foods we used to eat years ago. Eating the wrong foods, stress and other factors will cause you to have people putting flowers on your grave.”

This series continues next week with Part 3, which will look at the programs launched by St. Agnes Hospital to combat heart disease among women.

February is National Heart Month. In recognition of this month-long observation, which seeks to raise awareness of heart health, The Baltimore Times will publish a series on heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the CDC, each year approximately 715,000 Americans have a heart attack, and an estimated 600,000 people die of heart disease. The series will look at the efforts of St. Agnes Hospital to combat heart disease among women.

Nine years ago, Saint Agnes Hospital created “Red Dress Sunday,” an innovative, faith-based health education program designed by the hospital to raise awareness of the devastating effects of heart disease among women.  

On Sunday, February 10, 2013, more than 130 churches across the Baltimore area celebrated the 9th Annual Red Dress Sunday. Participating churches were asked to include educational presentations about heart disease in their services, while encouraging members of their congregation to dress in red that day.

Douglas Memorial Church located at 1325 Madison Avenue in Baltimore was the official “media church” for this year’s Red Dress Sunday. The event included an educational presentation and an interactive health fair for members of the congregation.

Bonnie Phipps, President and CEO of Saint Agnes Hospital and Georgia Chapman, a heart attack survivor addressed the attendees.

Red Dress Sunday officially began in 2005 with just three churches in Baltimore participating. According to St. Agnes Hospital, the program has grown over the years to include more than 130 churches, continuously building on Saint Agnes Hospital’s commitment to community health and the empowerment of women to take a personal, active role in their own health and wellness.

Red Dress Sunday is among the programs and initiatives sponsored by St. Agnes Hospital to combat heart disease.  

Located at 900 Caton Avenue in Baltimore, St. Agnes Hospital is also home to the Cardiovascular Institute, a state-of-the-art facility where vascular surgeons, cardiologists, and specialists work together to provide comprehensive and effective treatment to its patients.   

According to St. Agnes, many women do not recognize the threat of heart disease, and less than half of all women are aware of healthy levels for blood pressure and cholesterol, which are key risk factors for cardiovascular disease.    

The Women's Heart Center is led by Dr. Shannon Winakur who serves as the program’s medical director.

“Cardiovascular disease kills one woman every minute in the United States,” said Dr. Winakur. “Patients with high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and congestive heart failure, as well as those who are at risk for or have suffered from a stroke, have common risk factors. We are working to make this statistic obsolete. Red Dress Sunday gives us a platform to raise awareness about the prevalence of these conditions in women, and motivate people to make positive lifestyle changes that will improve their health.”

Dr. Winakur expanded on the success of Red Dress Sunday and is responsible for developing the Center’s approach to highly personalized care for women. This approach focuses on screenings, education and prevention.

“Women need to be aware of their risk factors,” said Dr. Winakur. “Risk factors include high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and a family history of heart attacks. Women need to see a physician, get their blood pressure checked, know their weight, and not smoke. Exercise can also do a lot to help, as well as knowing your family history and eating a healthy diet low in fat.”

In December, Saint Agnes Hospital kicked off Red Dress Sunday 2013 by inviting church leaders to attend a special women’s health educational symposium at the hospital. Speakers included Deborah Phelps, head of the Education Foundation for Baltimore County Public Schools and mother of 18-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps. Dr. Winakur and Campbell also participated in the event.

“It was an honor to be asked to participate,” said Phelps. “As women, we tend to take care of everyone else but ourselves. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, and yet we don’t think about that. When you help can spread that message, it’s important.”

 This series will continue next week with Part II: Georgia Chapman’s Story.

If anybody knows the importance of caring for your heart and why the focus on heart health during February is vital, it is Jacqueline Deckard.

Deckard, age 65, was diagnosed during a visit to Howard University Hospital with congestive heart failure and needed immediate triple bypass surgery. Following a successful operation, she has been given a second chance. "The Howard University Heart Center saved my life," said Deckard, a Washington resident.

During the month of February, Howard University Hospital (HUH) is preparing several events for the local residents, patients and hospital employees for American Heart Month to celebrate patients like Deckard and provide awareness for others.

Heart disease remains the number one cause of death for men and women in the United States taking the lives of more than one million people each year. The effects of heart complications can be life altering. Vascular disease can lead to heart attack and stroke, which is the leading cause of disability in the United States.

HUH will host a variety of events promoting heart disease awareness and prevention, including a Red Dress display, Heart Love Luncheon for patients, free heart screenings, a prevention and wellness outreach day that will include special “heart healthy” meals in the hospital cafeteria and lots of giveaway items.

“Despite advances in cardiovascular care, African Americans continue to lag behind in the nation in quality of life

related to heart disease,” said Dr. Michelle A. Albert, chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and director of Cardiovascular Disease Research. “This is reflected, unfortunately, in our life expectancy, which generally is lowest among black men and women compared to other ethnic or racial groups.”

“That’s why we in the Cardiovascular Division are providing so many events. We want people to become educated on how to better care for their hearts and consequently live healthier and longer lives.”

 To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of National Wear Red Day, Howard University Hospital will display five beautiful red dresses designed for this year’s Miss Black USA contestants in the hospital lobby. 

On Feb. 12 and Feb. 14, free heart screenings at the hospital will identify risk factors for cardiovascular disease. A Heart Love Luncheon will be held Feb. 14 to recognize current and former patients who have triumphed over heart disease.

Red carnations and other decorations will dress the table and walls of the HUH's main cafeteria on February 20th for Healthy Meals Day. Heart health lectures will also take place on that day.

HUH's Heart Month  also includes a host of giveaways and heart disease awareness and prevention tips. The hospital will also feature a Heart Love Weight Loss competition over the course of the month. Additionally, several physicians and staff with the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine will be participating in external activities, including speeches, lectures and demonstrations.

Through this wide array of events, the hospital plans to provide awareness and preventative methods for the community so that the battle against heart disease can be better and more effectively fought.

Since change begins from within, the Cardiovascular Division will be participate in a weight loss contest among hospital employers. Winners will receive a variety of prizes.

Help spread awareness by rockin' a red dress throughout the month of February.

For more about heart care at Howard University Hospital, visit: http://huhealthcare.com/healthcare/hospital/specialty-services/heart-center.